Breckland

Breckland's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, work life and religion.

The population passed 130,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Breckland increased by 7.5%, from just over 121,000 to 130,000.

The addition of almost 9,100 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Breckland was home to, on average, 0.71 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Eastof England's least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Breckland

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Breckland increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than Eastof England and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 4,500 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 14% of people in Breckland are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Breckland by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Breckland

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Breckland, but at a slower rate than across Eastof England.

In Breckland, the proportion of single people increased from 23% in 2001 to 27% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 27% to 31%.

Across Eastof England, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in Breckland fell from 57% to 53%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Breckland working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 18% to 13% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across Eastof England. As a result, Breckland became more healthy than the regional average 11% in Eastof England described their health as good in 2011).

Long hour working in Breckland decreased by 5.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Breckland, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Breckland residents that were self-employed increased from 9.6% to 10% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 53%, while the percentage of Breckland residents that were unemployed increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

The percentage of Breckland residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.1% to 4.1% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.6%, while the percentage of Breckland residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Breckland increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Breckland, Eastof England and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Breckland

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 28% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 28% in 2001

The number of people in Breckland that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 19,000 in 2001 to about 36,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 16% to 28% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Breckland that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 92,000 in 2001 to just over 83,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 9,700 to about 9,600 (from 8.0% to 7.4%).

About 600 people (0.3%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 360 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in Breckland increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Breckland by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Breckland

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 97% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 97% in 2001

The number of people in Breckland from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 120,000 in 2001 to just under 130,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Breckland from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 820 in 2001 to about 1,600 in 2011 (from 0.7% to 1.2%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 390 to just over 1,000 (from 0.3% to 0.8%).

Just under 600 people (0.4%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 420 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Breckland decreased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Breckland by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

In Breckland, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.3% in 2001 to 15% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.6% to 15%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Breckland remained close to 14%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 73% to 69%.

Private renting in Breckland increased by 5.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Breckland, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Breckland residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.6% to 5.5% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Breckland residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Breckland decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Breckland, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of one-person households fell in Breckland, while rising in South Kesteven (one of the most statistically similar areas to Breckland based on ONS area classifications).

In Breckland, the proportion came down from 27% in 2001 to 26% in 2011, while across England it went up from 26% to 27%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 28%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Breckland increased from 8.9% to 11%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 41% to 37%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Breckland residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.1% to 2.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Breckland remained close to 2.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Breckland by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households without children changed very little in Breckland, while the proportion increased in statistically similar South Kesteven.

In Breckland, the proportion of households without children stayed close to 64% between the last two censuses. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar South Kesteven increased from 61% to 63%.

Across Eastof England, the share of households without children decreased from 61% to 61%.

The proportion of households with children in Breckland fell from 28% to 27%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.6% to 8.9%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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